rainbands
Rainbands are elongated regions of precipitation and convective activity that organize into narrow, curved bands around a weather system or along its periphery. They are a characteristic feature of tropical cyclones, extratropical storms, and some mesoscale convective systems. In tropical cyclones, rainbands spiral outward from the center as warm, moist air converges at low levels and is lifted by the storm’s rotating flow. Each rainband contains clusters of thunderstorms that can produce heavy rainfall and gusty winds; outer rainbands may extend many hundreds of kilometers from the storm center and can be associated with tornadoes in some cases. In mid-latitude cyclones, rainbands often form ahead of cold fronts or within warm sectors, aligned with the frontal zone and enhanced by wind shear, producing multiple bands of steadier rain punctuated by more intense convective cells.
Rainbands vary in width, intensity, and longevity. They are most clearly seen on Doppler radar as curved
Impacts include localized flooding, hydro-meteorological hazards, and, in tropical systems, gusty winds and isolated tornadoes within